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FCIAC girls player of the week: Maddie Rusch

by Jesse Quinlan
on
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 7:23 AM

Photo by Dave Stewart/Hersam Acorn Newspapers

New Canaan senior Maddie Rusch has been named the MSG Varsity's FCIAC Player of the Week for Nov. 12-17 by a panel of athletic directors and MSG Varsity reporters.

Rusch won four events at the Class L meet and three more at the State Open, as the New Canaan Rams finished as the runners-up in both championship meets last week.

At the Class L meet, Rusch won the 50 freestyle (23.63) and the 100 butterfly (55.68). She was also on two New Canaan relays which set new Class L records, as the 200 freestyle relay won in 1:36.22, and the 400 freestyle relay won in 3:30.90.

In the State Open, Rusch again won the 50 freestyle, this time in 23.51, and was second in the 100 butterfly in 55.69. The Rams also won the 200 free relay (1:36.56) and the 400 free relay (3:30.67).

What's your biggest athletic goal for 2012-13?
Rusch: "My biggest athletic goal for 2012-13 is just to train really hard and go down to 2013 Y Nationals and better my times and places from last year,"

Who is your favorite teammate and why?
Rusch: "This is such a hard one! I truly love everyone on both my NCSD team and YMCA Caiman team. They all make me laugh and push me to be better than I am."

What's the best piece of advice you've received?
Rusch: "The best piece of advice i've received is to train hard in practice and then have fun in meets. This helps me push myself every day during my work outs and to be relaxed during my big meet races."

Which athlete is your biggest influence?
Rusch: "My biggest influence is probably Eric Shanteau. He's a US olympic swimmer who swam with cancer, and i've met him multiple times and he just is the epitome of a hard worker."